Israel to Allow Autonomous Vehicles on Roads Starting Next Year Following New UN Regulations

Starting in the second half of 2027, Israel is set to implement regulations permitting the operation of vehicles equipped with advanced autonomous driving systems. This development follows the recent approval of a comprehensive international standard by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in late June, which regulates autonomous vehicles allowed on public roads. The new regulation covers vehicles with autonomy level 4 and above, capable of driving in controlled environments with minimal human intervention, and sets uniform safety requirements, model approval processes, and manufacturer liability to ensure autonomous systems perform at least as safely as skilled human drivers.

The UNECE standard also mandates data recording systems, continuous fault monitoring, safety event reporting, and licensing frameworks for vehicles without traditional controls like steering wheels or pedals, theoretically enabling fully driverless travel. Israel is expected to adopt this standard automatically as part of its alignment with European regulations, removing previous regulatory hurdles and providing a ready framework for approving imports of high-autonomy vehicles. However, insurance industry responses remain uncertain.

Industry experts anticipate initial adoption will focus on commercial fleets operating on limited, defined routes, such as robotaxis, autonomous unloading cranes at ports, and dedicated buses. Currently, the Israeli company "Cross Israel" is advancing a tender for autonomous shuttle trials in Golan Heights communities, initially with safety drivers onboard and later fully driverless.

Israel already imports vehicles equipped with hardware and software supporting advanced autonomous driving in a dormant state, which manufacturers can remotely activate once regulations permit. Hundreds of Tesla vehicles with such systems have been sold in Israel, alongside the XPENG P7 Plus electric car and models from Chinese brands NIO and Geely's Zeekr, all prepared for autonomous driving activation. The Ministry of Transportation noted it has been approving experimental autonomous vehicle operations since 2022 and is currently reviewing the UNECE standard to ensure compatibility with Israeli requirements and to identify any needed regulatory adjustments. As of now, no formal applications for autonomous driving system approvals have been submitted to the ministry.